Cebu run surpasses entry mark

CEBU CITY, Philippines â€“ Another record field of runners in this Queen City of the South will answer tomorrow’s starting gun for the Milo Marathon elims here.

Local race organizer Ricky Ballesteros said that three hours before yesterday’s 3 p.m. deadline, the number has already surpassed last year’s 23,000 entries.

“By the time the deadline passes we expect around 25,000 runners,” he said of those who will vie in the 3K, 5K, 10K and the featured 21K races.

Since Cebu became a regular stop in the country’s longest-running footrace, each year has produced a record field, a testament to the sport’s continuing growth.

This is the ninth of 17 regional legs on tap this year with all qualifiers making it to the national finals on Dec. 8 at the Mall of Asia grounds in Pasig City.

“We’re just getting bigger each year,” said Ballesteros.

The men’s and women’s champions in December will earn tickets to the Paris Marathon in 2014.

Race director Rio dela Cruz was ecstatic with the numbers provided by the Cebuano organizers even if the Metro Manila leg last July drew over 40,000 participants.

“The goal is to continue to encourage running especially among the youth – for them to spend lesser time on the computer and more on physical activities,” said Dela Cruz.

Also present in yesterday’s press conference were Milo Sports executive Andrew Neri and race consultant Pat Goc-Ong.

“This is the biggest race outside Metro Manila. We have surpassed the number of runners last year,” said Neri.

As of noon yesterday, there were 565 entries in the 3K side event, 20,950 for the 5K, 570 in 10K and 1,290 for the premiere 21K race.

The races start with the 21K event at 4:30 a.m. at the Cebu City Sports Center.